Apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments.



H. O. GOLDMAN & G. I. WEBB. I APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATING11111510111, INSTRUMENTS.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910. v x 1 .035,533. Patented Aug. 13,1912.6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I H. G. GOLDMAN 8; G. F. WEBB. APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATINGMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27, 1910.

1,035,583. PatentedAug.13,1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET-2.

W g L H. C. COLDMAN & G. F. WEBB. APPARATUS FOR MEGHANICALLY OPERATINGMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I 6 SKEETSSHIIBT 3.

APPLICATION FILED KAY27, 191i);

H. G. GOLDMAN 6: G. F. WEBB.

APPARATUS FOR MEGHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910.

1,035,533.v Patented Au'g .13,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. G. GOLDMAN& G. F. WEBB., APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910. 1 ,035,533, Patented Aug. 13,1912.

6 SHEETSSHBET 5.

of which the 'following is a specification.

, UNITED STATES I To all whom it may concern:

CoLnMAN WEBB, -both subjects of the King of Great ratrnntr OFIJICE.

HENRY CHARLES COLDMAN AND CHRISTOPHER. FREDERICK WEBB, 0F LEWISHAM,ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed May '27, 1910. Serial No. 563,766.

Be it known that we, HENRY CHARLES and CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK Britain,residing, respectively, at Albacore Crescent, and 107 Gilmore road,Lewisham, in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improve-- ments in or Relating to Apparatus for Mechanicall yOperating Musical Instruments,

This invention relates to apparatus for {mechanically operating orplaying musical instruments such as pianos and other similar key:instruments, and refers more particularly to apparatus in which theaforesaid operation is effected by cylinder and piston pneumaticsarranged within the casing of the instrument and adapted to operate thepiano action directly.

The object of this invention is to provide certain improvements,hereinafter set forth, in the construction and arrangement of the partsof which such players are composed, and, to this end, the piano actionis arranged in operative relation to the piston of the pneumatic deviceby means of a cord, tape or other suitable flexible connection, saidconnection having the effect of striking a note larly rerer ;'In"orderthat the said invention 'Lclearly understood and readily y when thepiston moves under the influence of the pneumatic act1on-exhaust or suc-'tionin the cylinder. For example the cylinder and piston may be sosituated relatively to'the piano-action as to lift a part of the latterwhenthe piston is moved as aforesaid.

The invention further comprises improved construction of the pneumaticdevice, improved valve mechanism for use therewith and adapted toenable. different pressures to be employed in the working of theapparatus, improved music rolloperatmgmechanism, means for enabling themusic rolls and operating mechanism to be transferred from the interiorto the exterior of the iano casing without actual detachment t erefrom,improved means foraccentuating and for'va'ryin'gor adjusting the tempo,improved means for efiectm the modulation of,the playin allhereina termore particured to and described,

actuating mechanism. F ig. 6 is a vertical section of one of thepneumatics. Fig. 7

.is a section illustrating the mechanism for controlling the damperaction. Fig.8 is a vertical section through the valve mechanism andports'for controlling the pneumatic device, Fig. 9 being a correspondingplan. Fig. 10 is a section showing aconst-ruction in which the valvesare arranged in series in a bar or plate, the valves being provided withplungers while the cylinders pertaining to the pneumatics are attachedat right-angles to- Fig. 10 and taken along the line 11-11 in the latterfigure. Fig. 12 is a perspective view partly in section of.

* the several parts illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. Fig. 13 is a sectionof a pressure-regulating valve whereby a weaker exhaust may be employed.Fig. 14 is a View in section illustrating mechanism for accentuating,Fig. 15 at-ransverse section along the line 15-15 in Fig. 14, and Fig.16 is a plan of the pipes and connections to the valves pertaining tothe pneumatic device. Fig. 17 shows a valve or cut out pertaining/to theapparatus.

of the tempo control. Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the generalarrangement of the system of pipes and appliances.

to the said bar or plate. Fig. 11 is a view Fig. 18 is a view in sectiond The piston a of the pneumatic a is preferably of solid formation (Fig.6) and makes a working airtight fit with the sides of the cylinder I (1The piston therefore acts quickly by gravity when the suction or haustis released and equally. quickly "'answers to'the efiect of the suction.The cylinders a? for the pistons a may be formed separately, in grou s,or in one complete set, the said cylin ers .being however carried-by abar a. (Fig.-;'1) which traverses the piano immediately behind the lowerportion of the upper removable part or panel of the piano casing and isconnected to the side walls of the casing by brackets a 5 The cylindersare equally spaced but are slightly closer together than the keys of apiano so that more cylinders are provided than keys in the piano. Thusthe variations in the spacing of the parts to be acted upon, namely, thehammer action units, are al lowed for and those cylinders only are usedwhich correspond with the spacing to be dealt with. Furthermore, theexcess number of piston pneumatics over the number of keys admits of adisabled or defective pneumatic being disconnected from thecorresponding hammer action and the connection of another adjacentpneumatic therewith. The pistons a may be prevented from escaping fromthe cylinders by hanging the latter or by a. detachable flange a capableof application to the outer end of the cylinder.

The valve a (Fig. 2) for operating the piston a of the actuatingcylinder of the pneumatic device a, is fitted within the casing a? which'incloses the tracker bar-oz and music rollers a a, and is situatedpreferably between the rollers and toward the rear; a short connection abeing thus required between the tracker bar and the valve device a whichis suitably connected by the pipe Z) with the pneumatic device asituated preferably slightly below the tracker bar casing and connectedwith the exhaust chamber 1), though in some cases it may be attached toor form part of the bar a carrying the cylinders. The vacuous conditionsin the exhaust chamber 6' are obtained by suitable pumps or exhaustingmeans N, I) adapted for operation by any convenient power, such aspedals I), 5

The valve device, Figs. 8 and 9, comprises a block b in which are formedtwo compartments b, 6 the former of which is connected, by passages I)",with the tracker bar a and by passages c with the suction chamber b andthe other compartment 5 of which is connected with the atmosphere by wayof the opening a" and with the suction chamber and the pneumatic devicea by the passages 0 respectively. The comartment 6 contains a'ball c"and the other 7 contains a ball or plunger a acting as a piston and bothcompartments are in communication with each other by means of a passagec of small diameter, which is traversed by a wire or rod 0 same forminga loose contact with each ball.-

In operating the apparatus. upon the music sheet a. opening the aperturein the tracker bar the plunger 0 owing to the ingress of air through thepassage b into the compartment b, is forced say upward, and thismovement in turn o tes the wire 65 or rod 0 and finally the c in the 0er compartment, thereby closing the passage 0* leading to the atmosphereand placing the passage 0 from the suction chamber 1) and the passage 0from the pneumatic device a in communication, the result being the maniulation of a piano key. The movement of t e plunger a is transmitted tothe piano action d, Fig. 2, by means of the flexible connection d.- Uponclosing the aperture in the tracker bar a, the air which remains in thepassage b thereto, escapes around the plunger 0 The pressure is herebyequalized in both compartments 6, b and the ball 0* moves from theposition above mentioned and opens the passage 0* to the atmosphere. Theplunger 0 also returns to its normal position with the effect that nokey is manipulated. The compartments 6'', b are conveniently arrangedthe one above the other, the lower one, which may contain the plunger,being in communication -with the tracker bar and the suction chamber andthe upper one, which may :ontain the ball, in communication with thesuction chamber, the atmosphere and the pneumatic device as hereinbeforedescribed.

The high vacuum used in the apparatus enables all the parts and tubes tobe made very small, but in order to render the same operable with musicrolls as at present used in connection with other forms of players, ofthe low vacuum type, it is advantageous to employ a valve adapted tooperate with different pressures, as described in our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 570,090, filed January 10, 1910. W'ith theabove-mentioned object in view, the suction passages c a of the valvemay be connected with chambers 0", a common to all the passages ofth'cseries of'valves, the said chambers being 5 partially exhausted of airby means of the main exhaust b. The suction passage 0, pertaining to theplunger connected with the chamber 0", is partially, though to a lessextent than the chamber a, exhausted of 1 air by the same means, the twochambers not being in communication with each other.

In such. an arrangement, the action of the valve is as follows :-Whenthe aperture in the tracker bar a is opened by the aperture in the musicroll a the atmosphere enters the passage connected with the tracker bar,and causes the plunger 0'' to rise; at

the same time the wire or stem 0 is lifted and with it the upper ball 0isforced on to its seating 0, thereby opening the passage to the commonsuction chamber c" and putting the latter in communication with thepiston Pneumatics .through the passage 0 with the result that a key isoperated through the actuation of the piano action d as afore-described.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a modified form of pneumatic device a andcontrolling valve 0' m which the two parts are directly contube d to themain reservoir b.

however be readily understood from the pre- 1 vious description.

In order to perform soft music and also to operate the roll motor defiiciently itis sometimes necessary to use a weaker exhaust,

and instead of the extra reservoirs and automatic valves heretoforeemployed, a valve (Z Fig. 13 of the reducing type is employed,

so that the operation of the roll motor'and the aforesaid modulation inthe performance can be effected, The pressure-regulating valve consistsof a cylinder cl connected, at one part d, by a tube (5 to the rollmotor, or soft note tube, and at another d by a The passage d from thereservoir connects with the inside of the cylinder (l preferably by anannular chamber d which surrounds the partial vacuum in cylinder and hasperforated walls; forations f being arranged centrally around thecircumference of the cylinder. The cylinder d contains a loose piston orplug f constructed of some light material, such for instance, as carbon,and this plug is maintained by a-spring f in contact with a transverselyarranged pin f or a suitable cap; The inner end of the plug may be justshort and clear of the ring of apertures or perforations f in thecylinder. hen, for instance, the roll motor 0Z is in operation, air isdrawn from the cylinder (1 through the apertures f and tube (i therebyinducing a the cylinder, this degree of vacuum depending upon theadjustment of the spring f whereby the plug or piston f is caused tomore in slightly and more or less cover the apertures; the flow betweenthe motor (Z and the reservoir 7) bein thereby shut off. The piston f isadapt to move inward or outward according to the degree of exhaust inthe cylinder d", regulating the current of air from the motor andmaintaining a steady pressure 50 long as it remains in operation.

The motor d pertaining to the music roll mechanism a? comprises a seriesof small cylinders 1 connected with the main exhaust in such a mannerthat the pistons therein which are connected by rods f to a crank shaft7'', effect the rotation of the latter and thereby the operation of themusic rolls a", a. The admission valves f, Fig. 5, to the aforesaidcylinders may be operated mechanically by eccentrics. or otherwise andsuitable reversing gear may be fitted. The motor d is started by openingthe passage (1", Fig. 19, to the main reservoir I) through the reducingvalve 11" previously mentioned, the cylinders bein successivelyexhausted of air thereby, whifia the atmosphere is admitted at theproper aforesaid valves f V In operating a. piano player for theperformance of some musical compositions i time by means of the theperhalf-of the action as is essential that some notes be accentuated. Tothis end the pneumatic operating means is dlvided in such a manner thatnotes 1n the treble or notes in the bass may be accented during theplaying of the piece. 7 The mechanism used in this connection comprisespiston valves is Fig. 1 1, which work in cylinders is arranged in asuitably constructed casing or box is provided with four or othersuitable number of actuating buttons or pushes k which are mounted onstems 70" adapted to workairtight in the top of the said casing or box70 The lower part of the box k opens into the cylinders 70 two of whichcommunicate with a supplementary box In while the others are open to theatmosphere. Each of the cylinders is provided with a double row of ports70, each of the latter communicating with an annulus k which is commonto both rows of ports. Each annulus is connected with a nipple k formedor provided on the exterior of the cylinder.

carbon, are fitted in the cylinder lc and are maintained normally incontact with the inner extremities of the pushes k by means of spring'or equivalent devices 70 In the the normal position, the lower rows ofports are uncovered by the pistons, thereby establishing communicationwith the lower box and the atmosphere respectively. The lower box 70 isexhausted of air by means of a suitable pipe m Fig. 19, from thepressureregulating valve d set at weak action for soft playing aspreviously described. The

upper box 70 is exhausted directly from the main vacuum or exhaustreservoir b by means of a suitable pipe connection m therewith, and isused for strong action or loud playing.

To operate the valve mechanism 76X one of-the buttons or pushes k" isdepressed, the stem k thereof thereupon depresses a piston is and thelower ports In are closed, cutting oil' the weak exhaustv and openingthe'upper ports and the annulus to the strong exhaust in the box lc' theeffect'of which, through the aforesaid nipple it and a pipe connectionwe or m (Figs. 16 and 19) is conveyed to the whole of the bass or treblethe case may be, thereby producing a rapid accenting of any particularnote or notes in that half of the piano. It will be noted, by referenceto Figs. 16 and 19, that the tubes m and m are connected to the valvedevices (1, in the bass and treble portions of the'act-ion respectively,said pipes terminating at the middle of the action so that the pipe mcontrols the bass while the pipe m controls the treble. the annulusplaced in communication with the strong action, but in this case thenipple pipe m leading to a device -m..(Fig. 7) for The pistons 70 whichmay be of.

By depressing another button Z2 and nipple 7c are similarly carries a.

" through the pressure reducing valve (1*, the

i operating the loud pedal generally through- 272 secured to a suitablepart of the piano and provided with: a piston m which 15 connected by arod n and by a flexible or other suitable coupling n to the loud andsoft pedal actions, respectively. The cyl inder is exhausted of air bymeans of the pipe m or m as the case may be connected to the aforesaidaccenting device k causing the piston m to move upward and operate theloud or soft pedal actions, respectively, by means of the flexible orother couplii'ig n.

The tempo control device n is preferably mounted below the keyboard andconsists of a block 21 having therein three ports a, n and n, which arecontrolled by a slide valve 11, having thereon a finger-piece, n foroperating the same, the port 11 communicating wit-h the exhaustmechanism port n being directly connected to the pipe (Z leading to thereservoir b, and the port a being connected by pipe n with the motor If.This construction enables the motor to be operated by either hightension or low tension, and both of the tensions may be throttled to thedesired extent by suitable adjustment of the slide valve if, as will beapparent from the-illustration in Figs. 13 and 19.

The c'ut-otl' valveu is located in the pipe (Z between the reservoir Z!and the pressure reducing valve (I connected withpipe m, and saidcut-oil? serves to reduce or completely interrupt the suction betweenthe reservoir 1) and, the reducing valve d". The said cut-otl' device,illustrated in Fig. 17, consists of a block 0' having ports 0" and 0,which are controlled by a slide valve of" having a finger piece 0" foroperating the same, said val e being retained on its seat by a suitablespring 0". i

The exhaust pumps 6 are of the cylinder and piston type. and operate inconjunction with a reservoir 11 and spring regulator b" so as tomaintain an even pressure in working. The reservoir 7) is made of suchsmall (.llll'ltIlSlHllS and the apertures in the tracker bar 1 also ofsuch very small dimensions compared with those ordinarily employed thatthe whole of the mechanism is adapted to be operated with a minimumvolume of air, moving at a high velocity, the responsiveness andsensitiveness throughout the player being thereby considerably 1mproved.

The pedals If, b are connected to the pumps by flexible or othereonnections 12"", n and may be capable of being disconnected therefromand folded or Withdrawn from view beneath the piano; or the pedals maybe rendered detachable and capable of complete removal. The high vacuumused in the above apparatus enables such small cylinders to be employedthroughout that they can be arranged in a single row inside any pianoand by means of flexible connections between the pistons and the pianoaction, the row.ofcyl-inders becon'ies a suit able standard for anypiano. The pistons are preferably made of carbon andthecylindcrs ofbrass or other .suit- V able metal, the arrangement or combinationpermitting a free and easy movement of the parts without the use oflubricant. 7

Suitable gearing may be provided for varying the direction of, andspeeds of 1: 0- tation of the music rollers-and thereby enabling themusic sheet to be readily r'e- 'wound.

l The arrangement and construction of the several parts of the mechanismis such that each may be readily appliedto an existing pattern or,makeof piano without alteration of the standard arrangement and without"attecting the ordinary manual playing of the instrument. Moreover, bythe means hereinbet'oredescribed the appearance of the; instrume'nt' isnot altered and the'fac't that a piano player is included in the casmgof the instrument is not apparent to the casual observer, nooutwardmanifestation thereof being ol'iservable. 4 I p The in'q n'ovements inthe roll operating mecl'ianisln, accentuating mechanism, and the meansfor eliecting the modulation of the playing, all .as hereinbeforedescribed, are not-claimed in the present application, but applicantsreserve the right. to include these improvements in a separateapplication or applications. t \Yhat we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:-

1.. A piano having a nuadciuical player inclosed in the casing thereof.said player comprising a bar supported transversely of the cas ng infront of and adjacent to the hammer action, and a longitudinal series ofpower pneumatics supported by said bar cach ct said pneumaticscomprising a substantially vertical c 'linder depending from the ba anda piston freely movable ltherein,

and flexible pull'connections between the fat-mg mechanism constitutingan attachment adapted to be secured 1n the casmg of an ,5 3. An uprightpiano having a pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism supported in theupper part of the piano casing adjacent to and forward of the hammeraction, said mechanism consisting of a supporting bar attached to theside walls of the piano cas ing, a single horizontal series ofvertically disposed cylinders and cooperating pistons carried by saidbar, andfiexible operative connections between each piston and a unit15, of the hammer action.

4. Theherein described-pneumatic actuupright piano between the haimiieraction and the front panel and in cooperative association with said,hammer action, comprising a carrier bar having means for attaching itwithin the piano casing, a single l series "of cylinderssecuredfto anddepending from said bar,;a piston freely movable in each cylinder, aflexible operative connection to each piston for actuating a member of ahammer action unit, and valve 1necha-- nism for controlling theoperation of said pistons.-

-5. The herein described pneumaticactw ating mechanism constituting anattachment adapted to be secured in1the casing of an upright piano incooperative association with the hammer action thereof, comprising acarrier bar, a single 361168 of connected cylinder and piston pneumaticsand valve devices, the associated cylinders and valve devices be ng 111vertical allne'ment with 40 each other and depending from said bar,

and fiexiblemeans for connecting each piston with a'member of a hammeraction unit.

6.1 A pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism. adapted to be applied withinan upright piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammer action,comprising a bar having means for attaching the same within the pianocasing, valve devices'suspended from said bar, said valve devices beingformed in separate sect ons of multiple units, cylinders in verticalalinement with the valve de-- vices, pistons freely movable in saidcylinders, and flexible means for connecting said pistons with thehammer action units.

7. A pneumatic hammer-actuating mech anism adapted to be'applied withinan upright piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammer act-ion,comprising a'bar havflIlgMBTBZLIIS 'ZEOI' attaching the same within thepiano casing, a plurality ofvertically disposed cylinder and pistonpneumatics and valves therefor arranged in lineal order in separategroups or sections on said bar,

and flexible -me ans for connecting the pistons with t-he hammer actionunits. 8; A pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism adapted to be appliedwithin an upv right piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammeraction, comprising a bar having means for securing the same within thepiano casing, a single series of vertically alining valve devices,cylinders and pistons said series extending longitudinally of said barand supported therefrom, and flexible means for connecting said pistonsand the hammer action of the piano, the number of the piston, cylinderand valve devices being in excess of, the number of the hammer actionunits.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence 01 twowitnesses.

HENRY GHARLES COLEMAN.

- CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK WEBB. Witnesses T. SELBY Wannnn, VALTER J.SKERTEN.

-Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

